It's a pretty amazing feeling when they let you go outside the MTC. I know that once upon a time they used to let us... but now the only time you get to go and get a breath of fresh air is when you take your temple walks on Sundays or the devo walk to the Marriot center on Tuesdays.
Last night we got to hear from Neil L Anderson! :) He was so amazing! I almost got to shake his hand... I was about 15 feet away. But his talk wouldn't have been any better if I had been able to shake his hand. His talk was about "First love, then sacrifice." He said that we sacrifice for the things we love, and we love the things we sacrifice for. Does this sound perfect or what??? I had been thinking about those very same emotions a lot over the past few weeks. I know that I am supposed to be here. It has been a wonderful experience to have that testimony grow - that I am exactly where the Lord needs me to be right now. But it reminded me of why I am here. The love that I have for you guys (my family), my friends, the people of Thailand, Taylor, my future kiddos, my savior... you are all reasons that I knew that I needed to serve a mission. And he helped me to understand why that sacrifice was necessary for me. And why it was necessary in this form. My companion (I have 2 of them) and I were talking about how much easier it would be to stay home. We don't have to be here. We don't have to serve missions. But we knew that was what we were supposed to be doing. And I know that they Lord will bless me, will bless you, and will bless all those I love by my service to him. We are all making sacrifices for this. And I am forever grateful for your willingness to help me. I've had a lot of the "heart bursting" syndrome here... my heart just seems to like to swell till it doesn't want to fit inside of my chest anymore. Kinda uncomfortable, but kinda cool too. I think it's a little bit of the Saviors love that I am feeling. But just a little. I don't think I could take a lot more. I'd just *poof* explode.
It's hard to really go into detail about what I do all day. It seems as thought it is a constant cycle of eat, sleep, Thai, eat, study, scriptures, PMG, Thai, teach, Thai, eat, eat, scriptures, Thai.... then maybe sleep again. Sister Peterson said I was speaking Thai in my sleep a few days ago. Hehehe... that would be something else. But the spirit is incredible. And the rate at which people are able to learn and use a language is astonishing. I was thinking about how little spanish I could use, having taken it for how many years??? And to be able to bear my testimony the same day that I came to the MTC. Wow.
I can't tell you how much I love getting your letters! Oh, and I DID finally get my present. Yesterday. I was beginning to think that maybe the maintenance guy had actually taken off with it. But it did get there. And i don't THINK anything was missing. Think....
Funny story, so we were sitting in choir, and a sister came and sat down next to me. She looked a little "older". But you know what I mean. Like a little more of something that I could relate with. So I started talking to her. What do you know - she was 24, just graduated from college, and just left a boyfriend at home to come and serve a mission. She's going to Mozambique. We were just about rolling on the floor because our stories were so similar!!! :) Just a little tender mercy to me when I thought that no one here could really relate to me.
Tell Brian I'm sorry I haven't sent him the Thai alphabet yet... I don't even know it yet. They teach us in something they call "pasaa elder"... because it is romanized thai. and only missionaries use it. They are hopefully going to teach us to read the script this week! EEEeeeeeeee! I'm pretty excited. It should help a lot, because now it is just confusing because c's make j sounds, k's make g sounds... it gets pretty confusing.
And we played volleyball yesterday! no, that in and of itself is not that special, but a few of the sisters from my zone like to play, and one is a setter, so she asked if we wanted to do hitting lines. ummmmmm... do you even need to ask???? :) I was sooooo happy! And today I'm sore. But a good sore. Kinda like my brain too.
I just figure that the more Thai I try and stuff in my brain, that Heavenly Father has to make it bigger right?
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just to satisfy rumors, there is a cream soda-smelling tree. i have smelled it. it is true. i add my witness to that fact. |
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my companions! |
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my companion. she may try to kill me... |
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my district in Thailand |
I love you all and hope you have had a wonderful week! I know what Janessa was saying when she says these are the best. days. ever!!!
Love you all to bits!
Jess
(aka sista ellis)
